Jessica and Dima had a lovely, family oriented wedding at La Mirage Banquets on the outskirts of Chicago. La Mirage Banquests is known for hosting European style weddings, where the dinner hour, is not an hour at all, but the entire evening of dinner, dancing, singing and toasts.

I really love how they had so much fun. You’ll see many photos of them smiling, laughing and being goofy; but still very much in love.

Here is Jessica and Dima’s story:

We met at the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center Hotel to capture indoor portraits because it was still winter time in Chicago. It helped us loosen up and get rid of those pre-ceremony nervous butterflies jitters! I was scared, like most brides, of tripping or stumbling while walking down the aisle.

European style weddings differ a bit from what we often see in an American wedding because there’s no set dinner hour. Typically guests will enter and be seated at a table that’s already pre-set with appetizers and salads. The couple is introduced, and after a toast or two, the dancing begins.

After 20 minutes of dancing guests will have a seat, fill their glasses and their plates once again and listen to a couple more toasts. This continues through the evening until it gets closer to midnight when it’s time to cut the cake.

That’s right…the cake cutting is towards the end of the evening rather than during the dinner hour. We played “The Shoe Game” which is when we sat back to back and were asked questions about being a couple. Like, “Who is the better driver?” We respond by holding the other person’s shoe in the hand. Only the audience knows the answer, and we knew our answers were different when everyone would start laughing.

The best way to describe their wedding would be…a family and friend celebration full of laughs, guest singing appearances from distant cousins and a lot of happiness and love!